Tesla unable to align steering wheel - Looking for advise

[energy7]

I took delivery of my second Model S in December 2023. A few weeks later I started getting alerts/errors on my dashboard indicating power steering was affected, etc. Tesla diagnosed it and had to replace the steering column. Once I brought the car home, I realized that the steering wheel was slightly off center. The car drove straight but if I perfectly centered the steering wheel, it would take off to the right. I brought the car back and the shop realigned the wheels. I took the car home and once again, steering wheel is still off by about a notch.I then decided to try a different Tesla service center. Same thing, maybe a little worse time once I drove the car.

It's really annoying with the steering wheel being slightly to the left when driving in a straight line. When I spoke to the last service agent, he told me they have the equipment at the factory to perfectly align the wheel but that at the service centers, they have to eyeball it.

Any recommendations here? Am I being too dramatic asking for a perfectly straight steering wheel? I'm planning to bring it back....for a fourth time now. At what point does this fall under the lemon law or is that even possible? I love my car, I just want a straight steering wheel. The steering wheel was perfectly find before the steering column was replaced.

 

[Excaliber]

I took delivery of my second Model S in December 2023. A few weeks later I started getting alerts/errors on my dashboard indicating power steering was affected, etc. Tesla diagnosed it and had to replace the steering column. Once I brought the car home, I realized that the steering wheel was slightly off center. The car drove straight but if I perfectly centered the steering wheel, it would take off to the right. I brought the car back and the shop realigned the wheels. I took the car home and once again, steering wheel is still off by about a notch.I then decided to try a different Tesla service center. Same thing, maybe a little worse time once I drove the car.

It's really annoying with the steering wheel being slightly to the left when driving in a straight line. When I spoke to the last service agent, he told me they have the equipment at the factory to perfectly align the wheel but that at the service centers, they have to eyeball it.

Any recommendations here? Am I being too dramatic asking for a perfectly straight steering wheel? I'm planning to bring it back....for a fourth time now. At what point does this fall under the lemon law or is that even possible? I love my car, I just want a straight steering wheel. The steering wheel was perfectly find before the steering column was replaced.

The usual procedure would be to turn the left tie rod out and the right tie rod end in.
Alternately can they take the steering wheel off and put it 1 spline or 2 to the right?

 

[Yelobird]

Doesn’t sound like a wheels alignment issue more of a steering wheel alignment which shouldn’t be difficult for them.

 

[WilliamG]

The usual procedure would be to turn the left tie rod out and the right tie rod end in.
Alternately can they take the steering wheel off and put it 1 spline or 2 to the right?

I think the steering wheel can only go in one place. It’s notched as far as I recall.

 

[zoomer0056]

When I spoke to the last service agent, he told me they have the equipment at the factory to perfectly align the wheel but that at the service centers, they have to eyeball it.

They said they can't fix it.

I hope you have written proof of this. If not, somehow get them to say this as text in the app and screen capture it.

So this is definitely a buy back or lemon law situation. Don't let them string you along! It's now on you to push this to resolution. It'll be a pain and distraction, but hopefully your push will get it resolved and you'll get the car you want.

Otherwise you can keep taking it in hoping one time they can eyeball it into correct alignment.

 

[Excaliber]

They said they can't fix it.

I hope you have written proof of this. If not, somehow get them to say this as text in the app and screen capture it.

So this is definitely a buy back or lemon law situation. Don't let them string you along! It's now on you to push this to resolution. It'll be a pain and distraction, but hopefully your push will get it resolved and you'll get the car you want.

Otherwise you can keep taking it in hoping one time they can eyeball it into correct alignment.

Turning the left tie rod end out will move the steering rack to the right and turning the right tie rod end in will bring the toe in back.
This is standard for replacing tie rod ends.
Get them close as to the threads and then adjust to get the steering wheel centered.
That's what we did with my Ford F350 after replacing the tie rods.
The wheel was out by a lot like 3 or 4 hours on a clock before centering.
Any place that does alignments can do this

 

[zoomer0056]

That's what we did with my Ford F350 after replacing the tie rods.

Maybe that's a fix, contact Tesla and school them. This is probably not in their repair script. The OP definitely should rely on Tesla instead of attempting this fix himself on a brand new car.

 

[Excaliber]

Maybe that's a fix, contact Tesla and school them. This is probably not in their repair script. The OP definitely should rely on Tesla instead of attempting this fix himself on a brand new car.

Tesla should be able to do an alignment at their service center.
If that's inconvenient
An alignment is about 90.00 at a tire place.

 

[zoomer0056]

Tesla should be able to do an alignment at their service center.
If that's inconvenient
An alignment is about 90.00 at a tire place.

I don't know, but just assume ... if it was as simple as a wheel alignment, it would be fixed by now. Also, Tesla replaced the steering column ... seems a simple wheel alignment wasn't in the picture there either.

 

[gcardona]

This is BS. Centering the wheel is standard procedure after working on the steering system. When I had Tesla do an alignment, they failed to center the wheel, so I took it back, showed the technician the problem, and he said "wow, it is off. We'll have it fixed in a few minutes", and they did.

 

[Andrew*Debbie]

When I spoke to the last service agent, he told me they have the equipment at the factory to perfectly align the wheel but that at the service centers, they have to eyeball it.

Whaat? That can't be right. Maybe a shade tree mechanic using strings, but Tesla?

If they can't fix it, reject the car. I find it hard to belive Tesla can't fix it.

 

[topgear]

Tesla "aligned" my 2016 Model S recently and returned it with a slightly off center steering. They want me to pay for another alignment to "fix" it.

It's annoying to have to slightly point left to go straight.

 

[ATPMSD]

Read your State’s Lemon Law and start following the process. When Tesla is faced with a fix it or buy it back choice it will be fixed.

 

[Yelobird]

Read your State’s Lemon Law and start following the process. When Tesla is faced with a fix it or buy it back choice it will be fixed.

On a 2016? Not sure that applies.

 

[SucreTease]

Read your State’s Lemon Law and start following the process. When Tesla is faced with a fix it or buy it back choice it will be fixed.

This only applies if the vehicle cannot fulfill its intended function. A steering wheel being off-center is a cosmetic issue.

 

[Trbospnkr]

This is BS. Centering the wheel is standard procedure after working on the steering system. When I had Tesla do an alignment, they failed to center the wheel, so I took it back, showed the technician the problem, and he said "wow, it is off. We'll have it fixed in a few minutes", and they did.

This is total bs, what kind of technicians do they have there? I just brought my plaid in for an alignment and they stated it’s normal to wear down at 12k miles? They said the car is heavy so it wears down more often, bs something is wrong with the alignment specs or it simply needs an adjustable control arm. But they won’t own up to it

 

[energy7]

Problem resolved after I took the car back to the original service center that installed the steering rack. I spoke with a supervisor and expressed my concerns about the multiple tries to get this corrected. She was very empathetic and ensured me their master tech would be in charge of my car. After 7 business days, the car was finally finished. I test drove it and everything is finally aligned again.

 

[bkcyk]

Tesla Service Centers are a last resort for me and will be the primary reason why my MSP will be my first and last Tesla.

It’s a simple tie rod adjustment that any decent alignment tech should be able to handle or anyone with a lift and a wrench in <5 min per adjustment. It’s only time consuming because you have to put it on a lift or jack it up to get wrench to nuts and mentally be ready to do it again if the customer isn’t happy with the centering. Heck, I perform steering centering tweaks following a pro job myself because I trust me to do the job to my satisfaction on my vehicle.

All these TSC bs responses aka excuses are just that. Nonsense. These Tesla hired hacks have no clue about basic vehicle service fundamentals as do many owners who seem to love dropping off their Teslas at TSC like a kid at daycare.

No joke I saw a “NOW HIRING” tattered up vinyl banner the last TSC I passed by right below the flailing and weathered “TESLA” FedEx office print out because they couldn’t justify actually installing proper signage.

I swear they teach techs and service advisors on the job there straight outta high school or barista training at sbux. To learn on your $100K vehicle you studied and worked your arse off for.

 

[T fanatic]

My 2018 MS had the same problem. The 4th time on the third service center they finally aaaalmost fixed it. They claimed their alignment referall machine had been missalinged . But it doesn't explain why other service centers had the same problem.
If I would get the same problem again on my new MS i would go to some independent more professional that puts more effort into perfection

 

[racerx2005]

I took delivery of my second Model S in December 2023. A few weeks later I started getting alerts/errors on my dashboard indicating power steering was affected, etc. Tesla diagnosed it and had to replace the steering column. Once I brought the car home, I realized that the steering wheel was slightly off center. The car drove straight but if I perfectly centered the steering wheel, it would take off to the right. I brought the car back and the shop realigned the wheels. I took the car home and once again, steering wheel is still off by about a notch.I then decided to try a different Tesla service center. Same thing, maybe a little worse time once I drove the car.

It's really annoying with the steering wheel being slightly to the left when driving in a straight line. When I spoke to the last service agent, he told me they have the equipment at the factory to perfectly align the wheel but that at the service centers, they have to eyeball it.

Any recommendations here? Am I being too dramatic asking for a perfectly straight steering wheel? I'm planning to bring it back....for a fourth time now. At what point does this fall under the lemon law or is that even possible? I love my car, I just want a straight steering wheel. The steering wheel was perfectly find before the steering column was replaced.

Take it to Midas or any tire shop.